PA Medicaid expansion update

Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration met Monday with
federal authorities to discuss his proposal to overhaul the state’s 48-year-old
Medicaid program in exchange for expanding the government-funded health care
system to more poor people.

Neither side walked away victorious.

State Welfare Department Secretary Bev Mackereth
said the administration will have follow-up meetings with the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“We thank the head of CMS and her team for a
positive, constructive discussion earlier today about making important reforms
to Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program and looking to increase access to health
care for uninsured Pennsylvanians through a private coverage option,” Mackereth
said in a statement.

Corbett’s plan, unveiled last week and dubbed
Healthy Pennsylvania, is his answer to expanding Medicaid under the federal
Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.

Corbett wants the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to allow the state to charge
existing Medicaid recipients a monthly co-pay of $25 to $35 instead of a $10
co-pay for doctor’s visits that is now in place. He also wants approval to
require some Medicaid recipients to show proof of employment or proof that they
are looking for work by logging onto a state website that tracks job openings
and job training opportunities.

Another part of
Corbett’s plan seeks federal approval to reduce some of the 14 medical
treatments existing Medicaid recipients can receive to save money.

If he gets those changes, Corbett has
pledged to allow poor residents to use federal and state subsidies to buy
private insurance that must offer as much health protection as Medicaid under
the federal law.

The private insurance plan, borrowed
from Arkansas and Iowa, also differs from the Affordable Care Act, which
envisioned new enrollees going into traditional Medicaid.

But some Corbett’s conditions are
dicey at best.

The federal government has allowed Pennsylvania
and other states in the past to reduce benefits to Medicaid recipients. However,
the federal government has not allowed other states to institute work requests as
a condition for receiving Medicaid.

Carey Miller, state public Welfare
spokeswoman, said the federal government did not give any yes or no answers to
Corbett’s ideas.

“This is just the beginning of the
process and [we] will be actively engaging conversations like the one today,”
she said.

The final piece of Corbett’s plan does
not need federal approval. But it does not need Legislative approval.

It calls for the legislature to eliminate
a six-month waiting period for children to enroll in the state’s Children’s
Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). The Senate got that ball rolling Monday when the
Appropriations Committee unanimously approved a bill to end the waiting period,
according to the online news service, Capitol Wire.

The vote moves the bill to the Senate floor, where
it is expected to be approved and then sent to the House.

Current Comments

What exactly are the 14 medical treatments Corbett wants removed from Medicaid? And, what exactly is his reasoning?

Seriously, when are these Republican led states going to STOP pussy-footing along. Millions have already been provided to Corbett and PA Insurance Dept. to get the exchange up and running and provide for expansion of Medicaid Coverage. He doesn't think of or even care for those low wage earners who can get CHIP for their kids, but cannot get an affordable health plan for their-self.

My best friend, after marrying, has a family of six - herself, her husband (who is on Medicare), and 4 children (3 of whom have CHIP, and 1 who graduated from high school and just turned 19, no longer eligible for CHIP). Because SS is included in income, their total is approximately $33,000 annual income. Unless Medicaid is Expanded, she and her 19-year-old-son will not be eligible for Medicaid, nor eligible for a Federal Subsidy to purchase a plan on the exchange. But, she will be stuck paying a penalty for herself and son.

What is the matter with our legislatures?

Posted By: Maria Donlon | Oct 12, 2013 5:29:39 PM

There is definitely a Republican War on the Poor. This is not Christian which they espouse so fervently to be. I will never vote for a Republican candidate again for the rest of my life!

Posted By: Patricia McMullen | Oct 11, 2013 3:02:36 PM

"Another part of Corbett’s plan seeks federal approval to reduce some of the 14 medical treatments existing Medicaid recipients can receive to save money."

Seems to me this is the most significant change the Tom is seeking.

Why isn't the media reporting exactly WHAT medical care the working poor, indigent and disabled will not receive under this plan?